trailer bearing issues

[sbishop]

Scsmith42.

1. to the best of my knowledge, they are fully greased.
2. I always replace the races when i change my bearings, i bang them in until i can't push them in no more.
3. the grease i'm using is for bearings, i'll take a look and see if it says "axles" on it.
4. i tighten them up with a wrench, then back off the nut and tighten by hand and put the key in.

i drove 100miles yesterday and the trailer was making a racket. Stopped and the bearings were really loose, i was able to turn the nut one full turn on both wheels.

Not sure why i can't get it right the first time.

when you install the seal, do you put it flush with the back of the hub or tap it until it hits the innner bearing? i've seen video's on youtube and they just tap the seal flush with the back of the hub. when i try that, i can't put the pin in...i need to tap the seal all way in...as far as i can, is that right? or is that my problem?

[IMERC]

are you using a castle nut and cotter key???

[IMERC]

what are you doing different...

http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/bearing1.html

http://searchwarp.com/swa211385.htm

got one for aiding and abetting comprehebsion..

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=trailer+bearing+how+to&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7TSHB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=K87kSo_1EtHj8AaWx4iIBw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CBsQqwQwAw#

[sbishop]

yes a caslte nut and coter key


looks like i'm not putting my seal on right...it looks like it's suppose to be tapped flush with the back of the hub, not any further...think that is my problem?

[caver]

On my Dexter axles on the various campers I've owned, I tap the seal flush.

[Ironwood]

"Bang it in flush" that might be an issue. "Pressing" might be a better verb to use, and for that matter practicing it as well.

 Ironwood

[IMERC]

yes a caslte nut and coter key


looks like i'm not putting my seal on right...it looks like it's suppose to be tapped flush with the back of the hub, not any further...think that is my problem?

try pressing the seal in....

also....
are you using the correct bearings???

[olyman]

Are your axles bowed? Your 3500# axles should have a slight upward bow (or straight) unloaded and then once loaded should be straight. If you are very good with a tape measure, jack up the trailer, take the wheels off, and measure the axle flanges left to right on the top and then the axle flanges on the bottom. Helps if a second person holds the tape. Now load it and look at the difference and measure again.

If the top and bottom do not match or the top is less then the bottom, you have a problem.

when i first started to read this post, this was the first thing i thought of.

[sbishop]

I think i finally figured it out, I don't think i was tighten up the nut enough.

This is how i did it tonight, tell me if this sounds right!

Pack the inner bearing, place inner bearing in cone, tap seal lightly until flush with back of hub.

Install hub, then packed outer bearing, then washer, the nut.

Tighten nut while turning until i can't turn any more (binding). back nut off then tighten by hand.

With the wheel on, i've got a small play in the wheel and i mean very small.

If this sounds right...THANKS EVERYONE for your help!

Sbishop

PS...now i've got another problem, how do i remove all this grease on my keyboard? 

[IMERC]

might not be tight enough..... by a schosh...

[nas]

PS...now i've got another problem, how do i remove all this grease on my keyboard? 

Pressure washer

[scsmith42]

I think i finally figured it out, I don't think i was tighten up the nut enough.

This is how i did it tonight, tell me if this sounds right!

Pack the inner bearing, place inner bearing in cone, tap seal lightly until flush with back of hub.

Install hub, then packed outer bearing, then washer, the nut.

Tighten nut while turning until i can't turn any more (binding). back nut off then tighten by hand.

With the wheel on, i've got a small play in the wheel and i mean very small.

If this sounds right...THANKS EVERYONE for your help!

Sbishop

PS...now i've got another problem, how do i remove all this grease on my keyboard? 

Sounds like you've got it figured out.  Personally I like to grease all of the bearings at the same time, and lay a clean rag over them until I install them in the races.  That helps to keep my hands cleaner during assembly. 

[IMERC]

PS...now i've got another problem, how do i remove all this grease on my keyboard? 

Pressure washer

why bother...
it'll be coffee/beer resistant and shouldn't squeak...

[Tom]

I usually put the nut on and tighten it until the wheel drags.  Then I loosen it (usually a  eight  turn) until I can get the key into the hole. the wheel should turn freely.  I don't like any wobble.

[D._Frederick]

Did you change tire rims? The tire should  be centered over the spindle, the out side bearing should not be carrying most of the load.